Acetylene-lamp.



No. 633,683. Patented Sept. 26, I899.

m. n. COMPTON. AGETYLENE LAMP.

(Application filed Dec. 30, 1898.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet g-dI nlu mvf: TOR flwilfywzwl Zmm. BY

No. 633,683. Patented Sept. 26, I899. M. D. COMPTON.

ACETYLENE LAMP.

(Application filed Dec. 80, 1898.)

2 Sheets-Sheet. 2,

(No Model.)

WITNESSES ATTOR N EY ma konms PETERS cc FHOTDJJTHO. WASHINGTON, o. c.

NlTE STATES PATENT Orricn.

MELVIN D. COMPTON, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO FRANK FULLER, TRUSTEE, OF NEYV YORK, 1 Y.

ACETYLENE-LAM P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 633,683, dated September26, 1899.

Application filed December 30, 1898. Serial No. 700,714. (No modeLl To (all whom, "it nmy concern:

Be it known that 1, MELVIN D. COMPTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Lamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to acetylene-gas generators and lamps and to means by which the generation of the gas may be regulated according to its consumption.

The object of the invention is to remedy the evils hitherto existing in such apparatus and to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient acetylene-lamp by maintaining constant the gas production and feeding simultaneously any desirednumberof burners. I attain this object by providing a series of carbid-trays arranged one above the other and retained within a perforated tube, along the sides of which works an adjustable absorbent Wick. In another arrangement I substitute for the carbid-trays an absorbent expansible carbidreceptacle located within the above mentioned perforated tube.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 shows in vertical section a complete lamp with its various parts; Figs. 2, 3, and 4, details of the carbid-trays, and Fig. 5 a portion of the strainer and drier. Fig. 6 shows the same arrangement as Fig. 1, except that an absorbent expansible holder is shown instead of the trays.

In the drawings like parts are marked by the same letters and figures.

In Fig. 1, A is the water vessel; B, achamber attached to the top of A for holding the carbid-trays c or receptacles L, Fig. 6. D is the wick, feeding the water to the sides of the carbid-trays. E is a thumb-screw operating a rod, at the end of Y which is the pinion a. This pinion works in a rack b, which is attached to the wick-holder, which may be a band of metal, as is indicated in the figure. 'When the thumb-screw E is turned, the wick D will be lowered or raised. F is a safetyvent for any excess of gas. G is a gas drier and strainer, and H the gas-consuming device. G is a perforated disk. (Fully shown in Fig. K is the perforated tube, along which D is adjustable. The carbid-trays are held in place laterally by the perforated tube K and rest upon each other, supported by the upturned arms 1 2, Fig.

Fig. :2 shows a blank c,with projecting arms 1 1, which are turned up, as shown in Fig. 3, the ends of the arms 1 1 being bent over at right angles (shown at 2 2, Fig. 3) to form supports for the tray next above.

Fig. 4 shows how the blanks of Figs. 2 and 3 are made into trays for holding carbid. A strip of absorbent elastic material 4.such as gunny-cloth, for instance-is drawn around and held by the turned-up sides 1 1, and within the space inclosed by this strip 4 is placed the oarbid.

Fig. 5 shows a perforated and corrugated disk of metal or suitable material which is arranged in the drier G. Any moisture arising with the gas will penetrate the perforations :1; w, condense in the hollows j j, and flow down away from the sides of the carbidtrays C, Fig. 1, and back into the water-supply A.

Fig. 6 shows a modification in which the carbid instead of being held in trays is inserted in an absorbent expansible bag within a perforated chamber. A is the water vessel; B, the chamber attached to the top of A K, the perforated tube along which Works the wick D, and L the absorbent expansible carbid-bag made of gunny-cloth or similar material.

The operation in Fig. l is as follows: When the lamp is not Working, the wick D is turned down out of contact with the sides of the carbid-trays. No moisture being then supplied to the carbid, there is no generation of acetylene. \Vhen it is desired to set the lamp in operation, the wick D is turned up. The moisture contained in the wick D is thereby communicated to the lower carbid-tray through the perforated tube K, and gas immediately begins to be evolved. If one jet is burning, the carbid will after a time become exhausted and the light diminish. The Wick is then raised and coming in contact with the second tray it in turn becomes operative, or if it is desired to light several jets at once the wick is raised until it embraces trays enough to supply the amount of gas required. The object of stretching the absorbent expansive material -I over the turnedup edges 1 l of the trays c is to allow for the expansion of the carbid contained therein. As this carbid expands it brings more of the material 4 into operative relation to the wick D, thereby increasing the amount of moisture supplied to the bag, and consequently the quantity of gas generated. As the gas rises from the trays it carries more or less moisture and also particles of carbid. These are caught by the strainer and drier G, and the water of condensation is taken care of by the corrugated disk. (Shown in Fi g. 5.) In case a dangerously abnormal gas-pressure should develop in the lamp the gas would force sufficient water contained in A out through the vent Fto relieve the pressure and prevent an explosion.

The operation in Fig. 6 is the same as in Fig. 1 in so far as the feeding of water is concerned; but We have here in'place of the trays an expansible absorbent carbid-receptacle L, which lies within the perforated chamber K. As the carbid acts and expands it presses the bag L into more intimate con tact with the water-supply, and hence more gas is evolved. In this figure and in Fig. 7 the bag itself acts as a drier and strainer and G of Fig. 1 is done away with.

Having now fully described and illustrated my invention, what I claim is- 1. In an acetylene-gas-gencrating device, the combination of a water-supply, a porous carbidreceptacle, and a wick adjustable along the surface of said carbid-receptacle.

2. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination 5. In an acetylene-lamp, the combination of a water-supply, a series of carbid-recep taeles, a perforated .tube'ad j aeent to said carbid-receptacles, awick adjustable along said perforated tube, a safety-vent, a gas drier.

and strainer and means for consuming the gas generated.

6. In a carbid-receptacle, the combination of a metal or equivalent disk having up.

wardly-projecting arms, and a porous expansible material held in position by said arms, and adapted to receive the carbid charge, substantially as described.

'7. In a gas drier and strainer, the combination of an absorbent material and a perforated and corrugated disk, as and for the purpose set forth.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 24th day of December, A. D. 1898.

MELVIN I). COMPTON.

Vitnesses:

GEORGE E. RoWLEY, WV. SEMIEN. 

